Cllr: 'Traffic study before any more A40 development'

A TRAFFIC study of London Road should be carried out before any further development is allowed, a councillor has said after calling in plans for a takeaway outlet.

Cllrs Trevor Snaith believes Buckinghamshire County Council’s traffic modelling of the A40 is “erroneous” and has called for an up-to-date study to be carried out before any new units are allowed to open in the parade.

He has asked Wycombe District Council’s Planning Committee to run the rule over plans for a new takeaway between Therapy Tattoo and Young’s Chinese.

Cllr Snaith said: “London Road is basically a car-park and that area of shops – with the busy retail park junction next to it – is a major blockage in the town, particularly since Tesco opened as traffic movements have increased further.

“You also now have a situation where people are parking in front of the chip shop and other places to walk over to Tesco, and vise-versa.

“BCC’s traffic modelling is basically erroneous and they should have done some new up-to-date research before Tesco was allowed to go ahead.

“This is why we have asked for research to be carried out before anything else goes in there. We’re not picking on any business, this plan has just come along and we think there’s a need to have a look at it and what is safe.”

If BCC were to refuse his request, Cllr Snaith said he would ask WDC after it carried out its own traffic study in Marlow.

The planning application itself is for a change of use from an A1 retail into an A5 takeaway unit with the instillation of an extract duct.

WDC officers have recommended the plan is approved as the loss of the retail unit is mitigated by the opening of Tesco.

They also say the takeaway would attract people to the area “whilst not being harmful to the living environment of neighbouring residential dwellings or highway safety in regards to access and parking.”

The council has received 13 letters of objection – including one signed by 12 residents – on the grounds of additional noise and odour levels, as well as ‘exacerbating the existing traffic problems in the area’.

Transport for Buckinghamshire said in a statement: "This authority’s response regarding this application, took into account both the site and the surrounding highway network.

"The potential impact of the proposed change of use from retail to takeaway is not based or reliant upon localised modelling or the recent introduction of the Tesco Express, but relates to an appeal that was granted for a similar facility in the area.

"The highway authority is not in a position to object to the type of proposal under this new application when a change of use allowed under Permitted Development rights could bring with it a comparable or greater level of vehicle movements compared with its historical use."

Comments

Bartholomew HuckleBerry
5:57pm Mon 28 Apr 14

That is a news to me this "traffic study" thing before any new development should be given the go ahead. The council was repeatedly warned about the traffic congestion problems the Tesco will bring but the BCC insisted the parking spaces alone of about 9 at that time will not put any additional strain on the existing traffic levels. Is this an admission of being wrong I read in the story above?

That is a news to me this "traffic study" thing before any new development should be given the go ahead. The council was repeatedly warned about the traffic congestion problems the Tesco will bring but the BCC insisted the parking spaces alone of about 9 at that time will not put any additional strain on the existing traffic levels. Is this an admission of being wrong I read in the story above?Bartholomew HuckleBerry

That is a news to me this "traffic study" thing before any new development should be given the go ahead. The council was repeatedly warned about the traffic congestion problems the Tesco will bring but the BCC insisted the parking spaces alone of about 9 at that time will not put any additional strain on the existing traffic levels. Is this an admission of being wrong I read in the story above?

Score: 5

RogerC
7:51pm Mon 28 Apr 14

It you're wondering, I think they're talking about Wycombe Marsh. Great piece of journalism...

It you're wondering, I think they're talking about Wycombe Marsh. Great piece of journalism...RogerC

It you're wondering, I think they're talking about Wycombe Marsh. Great piece of journalism...

Score: 4

Minority Report
9:29pm Mon 28 Apr 14

Buckinghamshire County Council’s traffic modelling is the equivalent sticking a finger in the wind. It's probably wrong more than its right, how else would our roads be like they are? And the traffic so appalling!

Buckinghamshire County Council’s traffic modelling is the equivalent sticking a finger in the wind. It's probably wrong more than its right, how else would our roads be like they are? And the traffic so appalling!Minority Report

Buckinghamshire County Council’s traffic modelling is the equivalent sticking a finger in the wind. It's probably wrong more than its right, how else would our roads be like they are? And the traffic so appalling!

Score: 4

Marsh Wanderer
9:49am Tue 29 Apr 14

There's already a fish & chip shop, chinese, indian and pizza/kebab shop along the parade, what other takeaway can they warrant the approval of? There's only about 8 shops on that side of the road and already half of them do food, the unlucky fried kitten (KFC) is just across the road and Tesco sell sandwiches, think on BCC if you think we want another takeaway.

There's already a fish & chip shop, chinese, indian and pizza/kebab shop along the parade, what other takeaway can they warrant the approval of? There's only about 8 shops on that side of the road and already half of them do food, the unlucky fried kitten (KFC) is just across the road and Tesco sell sandwiches, think on BCC if you think we want another takeaway.Marsh Wanderer

There's already a fish & chip shop, chinese, indian and pizza/kebab shop along the parade, what other takeaway can they warrant the approval of? There's only about 8 shops on that side of the road and already half of them do food, the unlucky fried kitten (KFC) is just across the road and Tesco sell sandwiches, think on BCC if you think we want another takeaway.

Score: 5

Darren Hayday
8:18pm Wed 30 Apr 14

I do agree with Trevor on this. It seems that WDC have a vested interest in adding more homes or businesses into the District as it means more revenue for them (and Central Government of course). However it does mean that the more people that we add into the melting pot, the bigger the traffic problem that we have. Anyone knows just how congested the London Road is these days. It seems that we are going backwards to the 1960's when we had similar problems and had to re-plan our roads in a major way. How is it that the Governments (local and national) get to dictate the rules (as they see fit and it can always bend to fit the desires of developers and town planners, etc) and also they get to benefit from additional revenue gained as well??? Is it me or does anyone else get the distinct impression that - they blag their way through issues like this without giving it much thought to the bending infrastructure? Trevor, its not that often that I agree with you – but on this issue I do!

I do agree with Trevor on this. It seems that WDC have a vested interest in adding more homes or businesses into the District as it means more revenue for them (and Central Government of course). However it does mean that the more people that we add into the melting pot, the bigger the traffic problem that we have. Anyone knows just how congested the London Road is these days. It seems that we are going backwards to the 1960's when we had similar problems and had to re-plan our roads in a major way. How is it that the Governments (local and national) get to dictate the rules (as they see fit and it can always bend to fit the desires of developers and town planners, etc) and also they get to benefit from additional revenue gained as well??? Is it me or does anyone else get the distinct impression that - they blag their way through issues like this without giving it much thought to the bending infrastructure? Trevor, its not that often that I agree with you – but on this issue I do!Darren Hayday

I do agree with Trevor on this. It seems that WDC have a vested interest in adding more homes or businesses into the District as it means more revenue for them (and Central Government of course). However it does mean that the more people that we add into the melting pot, the bigger the traffic problem that we have. Anyone knows just how congested the London Road is these days. It seems that we are going backwards to the 1960's when we had similar problems and had to re-plan our roads in a major way. How is it that the Governments (local and national) get to dictate the rules (as they see fit and it can always bend to fit the desires of developers and town planners, etc) and also they get to benefit from additional revenue gained as well??? Is it me or does anyone else get the distinct impression that - they blag their way through issues like this without giving it much thought to the bending infrastructure? Trevor, its not that often that I agree with you – but on this issue I do!

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